Sagres

Sagres, in the Algarve, is the most south-westerly point in the whole of Europe. It belongs to the municipality of Vila do Bispo.

It gets very busy in summer, though it draws fans of surfing all year round, as its beaches are perfect for the sport.

It's a region with a mystical feel, with dramatic landscapes of cliffs looking out to sea and beaches that are almost deserted. There's a good choice of hotels.

Many people here still make their living from the sea and the land, so when it comes to eating, freshness is the main thing you'll notice in the traditional restaurants.

What to see in Sagres

Fortaleza de Sagres

The fort, or Fortaleza de Sagres, sits right at the tip of the headland. From here you get an incredible view of Cabo de São Vicente and the surrounding coastline.

Both the fortress and the village of Sagres were completely abandoned when Henry the Navigator received them as a gift. Once rebuilt, the complex played a leading role in the first phase of the Portuguese voyages of discovery. Ships sheltered and were repaired here, and there was also a hospital run by the Franciscan order.

Several historic buildings still stand, originally built in the fifteenth century and rebuilt on a number of occasions. The worst damage came at the hands of the fleet of the British privateer Sir Francis Drake in 1587, and from the giant waves of the tsunami triggered by the 1755 earthquake.

Inside the fortress you'll also find a monastery and the Church of Our Lady of Grace, built on the site of the old hermitage of Santa Maria.

 

Cabo de São Vicente

Cabo de São Vicente rises up in cliffs of as much as 60 metres above sea level, and until the fourteenth century it was thought of as "the end of the world".

In Roman times it was known as Promontorium Sacrum, a place of worship dedicated to the god Saturn.

Where one of the brightest lighthouses in Europe stands today, there was once a Franciscan monastery honouring São Vicente, whose remains were supposedly discovered in this part of the world.

The Cabo de São Vicente is a 10-minute drive from the Fortaleza de Sagres.

 

Sports

Sagres has the right conditions for windsurfing, kitesurfing, fishing, climbing, diving, trekking, sailing, boat trips and golf.

 

Nature

This region is home to the Costa Vicentina Natural Park which covers roughly 80 km of unspoilt landscape, with more than 100 plant species classed as endemic, rare or localised, and a good number of animal species at risk of extinction.

Here you can spot eagles, lynx, otters, foxes, hedgehogs and more. A paradise for bird watching.

The sunsets and the moon reflecting on the seaare among the finest sights you can enjoy in Sagres.

Just twenty minutes away by car you will find the town of Lagos, in case during your stay in Sagres you fancy a spot of shopping or a different kind of night out.

 

Beaches in Sagres

This region has more than 25 beaches to choose from, and they are far emptier than those in the rest of the Algarve.

The water is a little colder and usually choppier, but you get fewer people and undeniable beauty in return.

Because of the way it sits on the map, Sagres is the only place in Portugal with two coastlines, a southern one and a western one.

Southern coast

• Beliche
• Burgau
• Cabanas Velhas
• Boca do Rio
• Salema
• Figueira
• Furnas
• Zavial
• Ingrina
• Barranco
• Martinhal
• Mareta
• Tonel

Western coast

• Barriga
• Castelejo
• Cordoama
• Murração
• Telheiro
• Ponta Ruiva

Tours and activities in Sagres

 

Hotels in Sagres

Sagres is a place of dramatic landscapes, silence and empty beaches. The sea here is a little colder and it gets windier, so these aren't the most popular beaches in the Algarve, but they are beautiful and it's an interesting destination all year round. Its hotels offer good deals.

It's in Sagres that you'll find the most south-westerly point in all of Europe.

It's an hour and twenty minutes by car from Faro Airport and three hours from the capital, Lisbon.

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Reasons to choose a hotel in Sagres

• Quieter beaches
• Beaches for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing
• Climbing, diving, trekking and sailing
• Golf
• Visiting Cabo de São Vicente
• A paradise for birdwatching
• Incredible sunsets
• Costa Vicentina Natural Park

Best area to stay in Sagres

Most of the hotels are clustered in the middle of Sagres, as you can see on the map below:

 

Click to see all the hotels on the map

You can see all the hotels in Sagres here.

Recommended hotels in Sagres

Sagres Time Apartamentos

Pousada de Sagres

Pontalaia Apartamentos Turísticos

Martinhal Sagres

Mareta View

Casa do Cabo de Santa Maria

Alojamento Local Mareta